The guide to online consumer information privacy

The internet has created a platform where private information is shared widely and hence the need for the websites and companies protecting the information given to them. Consumers want businesses that will keep their information private and avoid sharing or selling it online to other people. By having an online business, then the owners agree by the FTC online compliance to keep information regarding their customers private. Here is how to honor that pledge.

Notice – the consumer should be given the notice so that they are aware that information is being collected from them. Notice ensures that the consumer is able to make an informed decision on whether to release their personal information or not. The other guidelines that follow here are only useful and applicable only when the consumer has been notified that their personal information will be collected before it is collected. The notice information should provide all the necessary information regarding the data being collected, how it is collected, whether the consumer can refuse to consent, what happens when they do not consent, how they can access the given data and so much more. These guidelines prevent identity theft.

Choice – this indicates that the consumer should be given a choice on how the collected information can be used. This is in secondary use of the information. Secondary use of the information is use that goes beyond the main reason for the collection of the data. These secondary uses could include for instance transferring the data to other third parties or using the data to advertise to the customer in future. Therefore, in giving the consumer choice or consent, they should be able to either opt-in or opt out with ease. Choice can be given to the consumer by easily clicking on a box to agree or leaving it blank to disagree on how their information can be used.

Access – this entails the ability of the consumer to view the data that has been collected about them. They should also be able to contest the accuracy of the data as it has been captured on the file. The data therefore given should be correct and complete to the knowledge of the consumer before the company can be allowed to use it.

Security – this entails the integrity of the data collector to be able to protect the data from destruction, loss, unauthorized use, disclosure and unauthorized access. The data as given to the collector, in completeness and accuracy should not be accessed by others, sold to other parties or used in disregard of the choices made by the consumer. If the consumer chose not to be included in marketing campaigns or emailing lists then they should be protected from that.

With these four easy steps then the privacy of personal information can be guaranteed online and the FTC mission can be followed.